Asean Travel And Tours

Tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 7, 2023. Photo by Reuters Police in Thailand have arrested a Chinese man for illegally working as a tour guide, a profession strictly prohibited for foreigners in the Southeast Asian country. Yue Liu, 31, allegedly offered luxury sightseeing tours to tourists at Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew temple and the Grand Palace, Khaosod English news site reported. Customers reportedly booked his services through the WeChat messaging app, and he would drive them around the historic sites, as reported by Newsflare. Liu was apprehended on May 6 as authorities intensified their crackdown on illegal foreign workers in Thailand. He faces charges for "working without a work permit" and "operating a tour business without a license." According to Thailand's Ministry of Labor, the law prohibits foreigners from working as tour guides or bringing foreign tourists, either individually or in groups, to various locations withi...

Foreign tourists at Hanoi Train Street, March 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Anh Chinh The global search volume for tourist accommodations in Vietnam has increased by 10-25% since early 2025, ranking 7th in the world for growth in destination searches. Vietnam is also the only Southeast Asian country listed in the top 10, surpassing other competitors in the region, such as the Philippines (ranking 18th), Singapore (25th), Thailand (36th), Indonesia (37th), and Malaysia (39th). The top 10 most searched Vietnamese destinations were Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Vung Tau, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, and Hue. Notably, Vung Tau and Ninh Binh recorded the highest growth in search volume with over 75%. The U.S. was the leading source of international interest in information about travel to Vietnam, followed by India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the U.K., Taiwan Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Several factors that make Vietnam a favorite and attractive destination for...

Vietnamese singer Chi Pu took Chinese actress and singer-songwriter Leo Li to visit Da Nang and Hoi An where they released flower lanterns on the Hoai River and posed at the Golden Bridge. Chi Pu (R) posted a series of vacation photos with Leo Li from Da Nang and Hoi An on May 6, revealing that the trip was initiated by the Chinese singer with no prior plans. Leo Li, born in Hunan province, China, has been active in the entertainment industry for 14 years as a singer, actress, and television presenter. She is known for her roles in the films "General and I," "Make My Heart Smile," and "When Shui Met Mo – A Love Story." Meanwhile, Chi Pu is a popular singer in Vietnam and made her debut on the Chinese market with her appearance in "Sisters Who Make Waves," a famous reality show in China. Her musical performances throughout the show gained a lot of attention from local audiences. They drink coconut water at a local restaurant. "Although everyt...

 Indian tourists visit Cu Chi tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City on April 21, 2025 Vietnam welcomed 7.67 million foreign tourists in the first four months of this year, up 23.8% year-on-year, with China continuing to be the country's biggest feeder market. There were 1.95 million mainland Chinese visitors to Vietnam between January-April, up 56% year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). South Korea ranked second at 1.58 million, followed by Taiwan (440,000), the U.S. (323,000), and Japan (280,000). The rest of the top 10 markets were Cambodia (279,000), Australia (205,000), India (203,000), Malaysia (182,000) and Thailand (169,000). 10 largest sources of visitors to Vietnam Favorable visa policies, tourism promotion programs, and the organization of major celebrations in April for Vietnam's 50th reunification anniversarty have contributed to an increase in the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam, GSO said. Vietnam eyes 22-23 million foreign arrivals this year.

Revelers play with water as they celebrate the Songkran holiday, which marks the Thai New Year, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 13, 2025. Photo by Reuters Revelers dressed in colorful shirts and goggles fired water guns at each other at the start of the Thai New Year on Sunday, a festival that is marked with water as a symbol of renewal, cleansing and a fresh start. Some sprayed water from the back of pickup trunks, and everyone expected to get soaked as the Songkran festival got underway. "Today I came well-prepared. I have my weapons – four (water) guns. I've got goggles and a hat for protection, and a waterproof phone pouch ready to go," said Teera Rachapol, 50. The celebrations are a bright spot for the country's tourism industry, with the government expecting an 8% increase in foreign visitors for the week. "This is totally different. And we didn't know what to expect, but it's very fun. I love it. I love the water," said Tinke Stockman, 20, from ...

Tourists play with water as they celebrate the Songkran holiday which marks the Thai New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, April 13, 2024. Photo by Reuters Many tourists have canceled visits to Bangkok during Songkran in mid-April in the Thai capital due to safety concerns after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar shook Southeast Asia. Adith Chairattananon, secretary general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said there is a 20% drop in Chinese tourist arrivals during the Thai New Year compared to last year, Nation Thailand reported. All charter flights from Chengdu City have been canceled, he added. The Thai government has said the Songkran celebrations, a week-long public water fight meant for ritual cleansing, starting in mid-April would go ahead as planned in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other locations. Industry insiders have urged the government to quickly take action to head off public fears. Myanmar's strongest earthquake in 100 years on March 28 sent tremors across Bangkok ...

Tourists use their smartphones to capture images of a passing train at Hanoi's Train Street, November 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Giang The Hanoi Department of Tourism has requested travel agencies not to organize tours to the popular Train Street amid growing safety concerns. The department also requires travel agencies to raise awareness among their staff about the risks of traffic accidents in areas where train street cafes operate. Additionally, relevant authorities need to proactively coordinate to detect, prevent and promptly address violations in accordance with regulations. Train Street, lined with makeshift coffee shops just feet from the tracks in the Old Quarter, was officially closed in September 2022 due to safety concerns. Despite barricades and checkpoints at both ends of Tran Phu and Phung Hung streets, several cafes continue to operate, drawing large crowds of mostly foreign tourists, especially on weekends. Thousands flock to the place to photograph passing tra...